GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israel is trying to "cover up" its failure to locate three missing Israeli youths by announcing names of suspects they believe are involved, Hamas said Friday.

Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that Israel is in a state of "confusion" and is trying to detract from its failure to make progress in finding the youths by naming suspects.

On Thursday, Israel named Marwan al-Qawasmeh, 29, and Amer Abu Eisha, 33, as the two main suspects behind the kidnapping of three Israeli youths on June 12.

Israel's Shin Bet said they had been jailed in the past for taking part in "terrorist activity on behalf of Hamas."

Speaking to Ma'an, Abu Eisha's father denied the allegations and said the family is worried that he has been detained and is being tortured by Israeli security forces.

1 ) Megadave / US

27/06/2014 17:28

I hope they are right about this, and not just using Hamas as a scapegoat. The fact that people are so willing to let a kidnapper go just to get what they want, should not be right.

2 ) Rondo Mondo / Canada

27/06/2014 19:24

Hamas is obviously worried. Their political leaders and military operatives have been rounded up. Their institutions have been shuttered. Over 3 Million NIS has been seized from Hamas in the West Bank. Hamas' government employees in Gaza are not being paid. Hamas recently killed a 3 year old girl in Gaza and injured her family when a rocket it shot fell on a Palestinian family instead. Hamas lost 6 fighters in an explosion in a tunnel near the Israeli border. Hamas is frightened.

3 ) Sarah / The Netherlands

27/06/2014 19:37

Hamas is right. And more, "Israel" calls them suspects, but already putting their names and pictures on internet. No proof, nothing. "we have suspects" the same way they did in the Fogel case. Guilty until proven not guilty (the "Israeli" way) Just pick up two out of the 566 and call them kidnappers.

4 ) Arnold / Canada

27/06/2014 23:09

The IDF had those two men in their sights quickly after the kidnapping. They kept quiet about it. Keeping a gag order on the naming does no help at this point. Now they will have to go into deep hiding as well.

5 ) Jane / Pa

28/06/2014 08:53

Rondo Mondo you are totaly barinwashed by corporative media and your right politicians. How you can hate so much without knowing what is going on on the ground in the Middle East?

6 ) wayne / nz

28/06/2014 17:13

So, have i got this right .... 3 Jews are taken by Hamas,
Hamas being this bad terrorist group let one of these kids make a phone call where he is able to tell Israel that they gave been kidnapped,
Now these kids happen to know right away that its Hamas that gas done it yet no one noticed 5 young men in a car or van, & from the time they were picked up by Hamas the car or van never went through a road block or check point, yet Israel got on to this crack down with in minutes of the kids call.

7 ) Outlier / USA

28/06/2014 18:28

If Israel proves to be correct, Hamas will have a "cover-up" problem and some explaining to do.

8 ) Khalid / Qatar

29/06/2014 00:06

#7: and if Hamas are correct, Israel will have a massive grovelling exercise aimed at the international community & lots of explaining to do!

9 ) Outlier / USA

30/06/2014 23:55

8, Khalid, with the discovery of the bodies, now we will see. Forensic evidence will be damning and there will be plenty to sift through.

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